"Alright," I said, standing up. "That's enough for tonight."
"You can't stop now," Ambrosio exclaimed. "You just got to the good part!"
"You're lucky I'm even telling you this story at all." I growl. "My crew only knows parts of it because it's written into Neverland's history. I've never told anyone this."
"So why are you telling me?" Ambrosio asks.
My mind came to a stop as I struggled to find an answer. In the end, I shrugged. "Because you're different."
"Different how?"
"You weren't brought here under the usual circumstances." I reply. "And I'm the one who found you, not him."
"I thought he was the one who sabotaged our ship?"
"He was, but he left you behind."
"Why?"
Without providing an answer, I flick my hand in the direction of the hammock hanging in the corner. "Bed. Tomorrow we return you to The Edge."
Ambrosio stands. "You know, you can't be much older than I am. I'm only twelve."
"Age works differently in Neverland."
"So how long have you been here?"
"Honestly," I say as Ambrosio settles into his hammock. "I don't know."
I intended to turn away to retire to my cot but Ambrosio grabs my arm, stopping me from leaving. His eyes are wide as he asks, "Do you ever dream of going home?"
A knot begins to form in my stomach. "I don't have a home."
"Not even London?"
I shake my head. "It's out of the question. I made my decision a long time ago and now I must deal with it."
Ambrosio frowns. "Surely there is some way."
Without waiting for an answer from me, he turns over to face the wall, soft snores signifying the end of our conversation.
After a moment of watching Ambrosio settle into a rhythmic slumber, I turn my thoughts off and retire to my own cot, but sleep didn't come.
It never does.
***
The next days that follow are disturbingly calm. With no movement from the island, I attempt to ease the feeling of dread pooling in my stomach by commanding my crew to their usual duties.
We were set to sail to The Edge to return Ambrosio home but the boy was stubborn. Having never entered a magical realm before, let alone knowing they exist, he was determined to explore.
I could see why Peter had wanted him. His desire for adventure and wanderlust would've made him a valuable Lost Boy.
My judgement was sound and I firmly believed in my decision to return the boy home, but with no word from the island, Ambrosio convinced me to let him stay a few more days. Not to mention, he was pushing to hear the rest of the story.
Reluctance settled in quickly. It was not safe for Ambrosio here, it wasn't safe for anyone, but if Peter had left him, then it was likely he didn't know that Ambrosio had even survived the wreckage.
"Three days." I had said, holding up three fingers clearly. "If nothing comes from the island during that time, you can stay. The second we hear of something, you're gone. Understand?"
"But why?" Ambrosio had demanded. "Why is it so bad that I'm here?"
I rubbed my temples in frustration. He was like me when I was his age, stubborn and curious.
"You better pray he doesn't know you're here." was all I had said. "It will end badly for everyone if he does."
That had been the end of it, for the time being.
My ship sailed onwards in the Neverseas, circling around the island in a familiar pattern. Whilst The Jolly Roger can leave the island's shores, it can never leave the borders of Neverland's realms. We could travel far enough that the island becomes a speck on the horizon, but it never leaves our sight completely.
It is late afternoon when I stand atop the ship's deck, overlooking the deep blue waters. In the days of a pirate, much time is spent sailing the seas, visiting the smaller islands of Neverland and plundering and pillaging those who dare set sail in my path.
Whilst the Neverseas weren't home to many other large vessels such as The Jolly Roger, small rowboats, ketch's and sloops occasionally sailed around the island.
He was toying with me; he always was, which is the reason why many of said ships never returned to the island's shore.
"This is all you do each day?" Ambrosio questioned beside me as we watched my crew loot a smaller vessel we had decimated moments ago. "Run down other ships and steal their possessions?"
"You're only a villain when a hero tells the story." I reply, watching my crew with little interest. "Nothing about what we're doing is wrong."
"You're stealing!" Ambrosio exclaimed. "That's wrong."
"Everyone steals," I turn my frown on the boy. "Whether it's gold, food, hearts, trust, everyone steals something. We are selfish creatures, and we give in to our greedy desires because no one has ever stopped us."
"If you steal in London, you get arrested." Ambrosio points out.
I gesture around us at the vast stretch of water surrounding the ship. "Who do you think is going to arrest you here? There's no one to tell you what to do."
"So that's it then?" Ambrosio challenges. "You do as you please because no one will stop you?"
"I do as I please because no one can stop me." I smile bitterly. "This is Neverland, and there are no rules here."
"Tell me more," Ambrosio said that night in my quarters. "How did all these things come to be by the force of will?"
The next few days that followed were laced with adventure.
Having made our way back to the beach, we cut through the forestry like soldiers, slicing our path through nature, and our child-like hearts.
"James." Peter breathed blissfully as he gazed out at the water in awe. "This is incredible."
The cove was everything we'd imagined and more. Having made our way down the mountain, we had decided to trek to the small beach off the corner of the island.
It may have been small from the skies, but down on the sand, the beach was vibrant and gushing with life.
Great waves crashed over the sand, bringing the taste of sea salt to desperate senses. The water dissolved into sea foam before pulling itself out to the ocean once more, a shimmering looking glass of endless hope.
Winds sent our hair to the heavens and the depths, whistling in our ears like a thousand voices crying "I'm home I'm home I'm home."
A radiant sun bore down on a vibrant paradise, a grin burning on my face like the stars in the cosmos.
"This," I whispered, starstruck. "This is everything. This is home."
Peter looked across to me, watching with a knowing smile. "If it's really home, than it is yours."
"Really?" I ask, turning to my friend in surprise. "This is mine?"
Peter's smile never falters. "We create our own happiness, James. This is yours."
"You're giving me this?"
"It's something you love," Peter's eyes bore into mine. "Who am I to take that away from you?"
In awe, I turn my gaze back to the sea. With the wind in my hair, I close my eyes and dream.
I imagine great big ships, sailing out on the billowing sea, only coming stopping on land when they've ventured beyond the horizon.
I imagine birds singing overhead in the skies, mermaids racing the ships through the water, the sound of booming cannons and piles and piles of golden treasure.
For a brief moment, I am able to taste the dream like it was in front of me, very much alive and very much real. A part of me wished it could be.
In fact, it felt so real that I wanted to reach out and touch it.
"James." Peter gasps suddenly.
I open my eyes and my mouth drops open.
Stationary in the cove, a great ship sat in the water as the sun cast shadows on its white sails.
"Oh my," was all I managed to say as my stared at the beautiful sight.
"I think," Peter said in astonishment. "You may have imagined that."
"How is that possible?" I whisper.
Peter taps the side of his head. "We have the power to make our dreams a reality. You imagined it, so it became real."
I stared at the ship in wonder. Excitement coursed through my veins as I felt the heat crawling in my blood.
Peter must've sensed my excitement because he laughed. "James."
"Hm?"
"What are you going to call this place?"
I thought of what Peter said at the top of the mountain, about pirates burying their gold here and as I stared at the monstrous ship, the name came to me.
"Pirates Cove." I said, and pointed at the ship. "And that is my pirate ship."
"Now all you need is a crew." Peter laughed.
I stopped, hand dropping by my side and I turned to face my friend. "Peter, what if no one ever finds us here?"
Peter cups my face in his hands. "Would that really be such a bad thing?"
I couldn't stop the grin creeping on to my face as I realised I didn't care anymore. "Maybe not."
"Besides," Peter slings an ark around my shoulders as we turn to face the ocean again. "Now you can do what you've always dreamed of. Sail the seas, Captain a ship, wreak havoc on the waters as the great Captain James!"
I burst out laughing. "We need to work on the name. Captain James doesn't sound so scary."
"Oh?"
Peter wrestled me to the ground, both of us play-fighting until we roll over on the sand in laughter.
"Not so scary indeed." Peter smirks.
"Shut up."
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